The National Institute of Aerospace courts Airbus business and others for research and an international reputation. Money from Europe for aeronautical research? Bring it on, says Bob Lindberg, president and chief executive of the National Institute of Aerospace, answering critics of his organization's courtship of business from Airbus. Eighty percent of Airbus is owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., and 20 percent is owned by BAE Systems of Britain. "We have a perspective that the marketplace is global, and that Airbus and Boeing and all of the suppliers, Rolls Royce and GE and Pratt & Whitney operate in a global marketplace," he says.

Nia takes elements of several exercise programs, but the focus is on fun Right in the middle of an hour of stretching, lunging, hopping, gliding, deep breathing and meditation, eight women suddenly cut loose for a chicken dance. They flapped their arms and ran around in small circles. Margie Holt of Newport News even added a bit of clucking, a big smile spreading across her face. "Get silly!" shouted Vicki Lanier, the instructor for the exercise class (and thus, the lead chicken)

A young Girl Scout isn't looking to set records -- she just wants to do her best and go to Savannah Last weekend, on the first day Girl Scout Cookies went on sale, Nia Dotson hit the streets for about three hours. "I stopped," she says softly, "when my feet started to hurt." She's a small girl with small feet. But she has a big goal and an impressive track record. Nia, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Forrest Elementary School, sold more than 1,100 boxes of cookies last year -- the highest total in Hampton.

HEALTH CARE Ramon C. (Ray) Darcey, Vice President of Sentara Enterprises, has been elected Vice-Chairman of the American Association for Homecare. Darcey will also oversee the group's Legislative Policy Committee, which provides guidance for congressional priorities. Darcey is responsible for Sentara Home Care Services, a comprehensive home health agency offering a full range of medical services including post- surgical care, chronic disease management using telehealth technology, infusion therapy, respiratory therapy, home medical equipment and hospice, in a service area ranging from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach, and south to Elizabeth City, N.C. AERONAUTICS The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Alexander Nicholas Brown earned his master's degree in aerospace engineering in December. His dream was to improve the next generation of aerospace vehicles. It was a dream that was tragically cut short by a boating accident on the James River -- the body of 25-year-old Brown was found Wednesday morning by a commercial fisherman in Newport News. Brown, of Newport News, was one of 10 people who fell from a 22-foot Venture sailboat when it capsized in the early morning hours of May 13. Another person on the boat, 23-year-old Tyler Lorenzi, died at a local hospital after being rescued from the water.

A team of in-state and out-of-state schools -- among them the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech -- will lead the National Institute of Aerospace, a multimillion-dollar project expected to become a world-class high-tech research hub for aerospace and atmospherics. The group beat out and disappointed a team led by Hampton Roads-area universities, among them Old Dominion University, Hampton University and Norfolk State University. "We are delighted with the announcement to create and lead the new institute," said Malcolm J. McPherson, interim dean of the College of Engineering at Tech.

Achievements PENINSULA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Nia Harrison, a member of the senior class at Peninsula Catholic High School, has been recognized by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program, as announced by principal Francine Conway. Mallory R. Baker, Ryan J. Fogle, Lindsey E. Jean, Randy A. Jordan and Brian M. Whittenton, students at Peninsula Catholic High School, have been named Commended Students in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students placed in the top 5 percent of the more than 1 million students who entered the 2006 competition by taking the 2004 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.